2005 BMW 325XI check engine

Giving and receiving assistance
132 Some of the articles contained in the first aid
pouch have a limited service life. Therefore,
check the expiration dates of the contents reg-
ularly and replace any items in good time, if nec-
essary.
Warning triangle*
The warning triangle is located on the left-hand
side of the luggage compartment. Press the tab
to take it out.
Jump starting
If the car's own battery is flat, your BMW's
engine can be started by connecting two
jumper cables to another vehicle's battery. You
can also use the same method to help start
another vehicle. Only use jumper cables with
fully-insulated clamp handles.
Do not touch any electrically live parts
when the engine is running, or a fatal acci-
dent may occur. Carefully adhere to the follow-
ing sequence, both to prevent damage to one or
both vehicles, and to guard against possible
personal injuries.<
Preparation
1.Check whether the battery of the other
vehicle has a voltage of 12 volts and
approximately the same capacitance in Ah.
This information can be found on the bat-
tery.
2.Switch off the engine of the assisting vehi-
cle.
3.Switch off any consumers in both vehicles.There must not be any contact between
the bodies of the two vehicles, otherwise
there is a danger of shorting.<
Connecting jumper cables
Connect the jumper cables in the correct
order, so that no sparks which could
cause injury occur at the battery.<
Your BMW has a jump-starting connection in
the engine compartment which acts as the bat-
tery's positive terminal, refer also to the Engine
compartment overview on page119. The cap is
marked with +.
1.Pull the cap of the BMW jump-starting con-
nection up to remove.
2.Attach one terminal clamp of the plus/+
jumper cable to the positive terminal of the
battery or a starting-aid terminal of the vehi-
cle providing assistance.
3.Attach the second terminal clamp of the
plus/+ jumper cable to the positive terminal
of the battery or a starting-aid terminal of
the vehicle to be started.
4.Attach one terminal clamp of the minus/–
jumper cable to the negative terminal of the
battery or to an engine or body ground of
the assisting vehicle.

Reference
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Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
133
Your BMW has a special nut as body ground
or negative pole.
5.Attach the second terminal clamp of the
minus/– jumper cable to the negative termi-
nal of the battery or to the engine or body
ground of the vehicle to be started.
Starting the engine
1.Start the engine of the donor vehicle and
allow it to run for a few minutes at slightly
increased idle speed.
2.Start the engine on the other vehicle in the
usual way.
If the first start attempt is not successful,
wait a few minutes before another attempt
in order to allow the discharged battery to
recharge.
3.Let the engines run for a few minutes.
4.Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing
the above connecting sequence.
If necessary, have the battery checked and
recharged.
Never use spray fluids to start the
engine.<
Tow-starting, towing away
Observe the applicable laws and regula-
tions for tow-starting and towing vehi-
cles.<
Do not transport any occupants other
than the driver in a vehicle that is being
towed.<
Using a tow fitting
The screw-in tow fitting must always be carried
in the car. It can be screwed in at the front or
rear of the BMW.
It is stored in the onboard tool kit underneath
the cover on the right-hand side of the luggage
compartment, refer to page125.
Use only the tow fitting provided with the
vehicle and screw it all the way in. Use the
tow fitting for towing on paved roads only. Avoid
lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift
the vehicle by the tow fitting. Otherwise the tow
fitting and the vehicle could be damaged.<
Access to screw thread
Rectangular cover panel in bumper:
Press on the upper edges of the cover panel.
Front
Rear
Being towed
Check that the car is radio-ready and that
the electric steering wheel lock is not
engaged, otherwise the car would not be steer-
able. If the electrical system fails, do not
attempt to tow-start or tow away the car. The
electric steering wheel lock cannot be disen-

Reference
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Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
135
engaged and the car is not steerable. Jump
starting, refer to page132.<
Do not tow-start vehicles with an auto-
matic transmission. Only tow-start vehi-
cles with a catalytic converter with the engine
cold. It is better to jump start the engine, refer to
page132.<
1.Switch on the hazard warning flashers,
comply with local regulations.
2.Switch on the ignition, refer to page42.
3.Shift into 3rd gear. Vehicles with SMG, see
below.
4.Have the vehicle tow-started with the clutch
completely depressed and slowly release
the clutch. After the engine starts, immedi-
ately depress the clutch completely again.
5.Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow
bar or rope and switch off the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
6.Have the vehicle checked.
Vehicles with sequential manual gearbox SMG:
1.Have the vehicle tow-started with the selec-
tor lever in position N.
2.Select sequential mode. The correct gear is
automatically engaged.
325xi, 330xi: do not activate Hill Descent
Control HDC when the vehicle is being
tow-started, page69.<

Reference
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Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
137
Engine compartment lid open
Luggage compartment lid open
Window washer fluid level too low Add washer fluid as soon as possible,
refer to page50.
Lights up in red:
Service is due Schedule a service appointment
Check service requirements, refer to
page63.
Lights up in yellow:
The engine will start the next time the
start/stop button is touched, possibly
without the brake or clutch being
depressed
Remote control malfunctioning or, in
cars with convenient access, not
detectedThe engine cannot be started. Have the
remote control checked, if necessary.
Battery in remote control discharged Use the remote control for a longer jour-
ney or, in cars with convenient access,
replace the battery.
Lights up in red:
Driver's and/or front passenger's air-
bags malfunctioningHave the system checked immediately.
Lights up in yellow:
Belt tensioners and/or airbag system
for rear-seat passengers malfunction-
ingHave the system checked as soon as
possible.
Belt tensioners and/or airbag system
failedHave the system checked immediately.
Active steering defective You can continue your journey.
Steering characteristics are modified
and steering wheel could be off-center.
Steer carefully.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
Lights up:
Emergency call system has failed or is
malfunctioningHave the system checked as soon as
possible.
12Cause What to do

Indicator and warning lamps
138Lights up in red:
Engine malfunction Stop the car and switch off the engine.
You cannot continue your journey. Con-
tact your BMW Center.
Lights up in yellow:
Full engine power is no longer available You can continue your journey, but
moderate your speed and exercise due
caution. Have the engine checked as
soon as possible.
Indication in US models:
Indicator lamp1 flashes:
Engine malfunction under high load.
High engine load will result in damage
to the catalytic converterYou can continue your journey, but
moderate your speed and exercise due
caution. Have the vehicle checked with-
out delay.
Indicator lamp1 comes on:
Engine malfunction with adverse effect
on exhaust emissionsHave the car checked as soon as possi-
ble.
Indication in Canadian models:
Indicator lamp1 flashes:
Engine malfunction under high load.
High load on the engine will result in
damage to the catalytic converterYou can continue your journey, but
moderate your speed and exercise due
caution. Have the vehicle checked with-
out delay.
Indicator lamp1 comes on:
Engine malfunction with adverse effect
on exhaust emissionsHave the car checked as soon as possi-
ble.
Lights up in red:
Engine overheating Carefully bring the car to a stop, switch
off the engine and allow it to cool down.
Do not open the engine compartment
lid, otherwise there would be a risk of
injury by scalding. Contact your BMW
Center.
Lights up in yellow:
Engine too hot Continue driving at more moderate
speed so that the engine can cool
down. Have the engine checked with-
out delay if the situation reoccurs.
12Cause What to do

Indicator and warning lamps
140Indication in US models
Vehicle electronics failed You cannot continue your journey. Con-
tact your BMW Center.
Indication
* in Canadian models
Vehicle electronics failed You cannot continue your journey. Con-
tact your BMW Center.
Indication
* in Canadian models
Vehicle electronics failed You cannot continue your journey. Con-
tact your BMW Center.
Lights up in red: Have the system in question checked
without delay.
>Starter failed or The engine cannot be restarted.
>ignition malfunctioning. Engine
restart only possible when brake is
depressed or
>lighting system failed. Low beams/
tail lamps and brake lamps still
operational. All other lamps failedDepress the brake to restart the engine.
Lights up in yellow:
>Control of the brake lamps failed or
>fuel supply malfunctioning, or
>trailer lamps malfunctioning You can continue your journey, but
moderate your speed and exercise due
caution. Have the system in question
checked without delay.
Flashing:
Dynamic Stability Control DSC or
Dynamic Traction Control DTC is con-
trolling drive and braking forces, refer
also to page69
Dynamic Traction Control DTC acti-
vated, refer also to page69
Dynamic Stability Control DSC and
Dynamic Traction Control DTC deacti-
vated, refer also to page69Driving stability limited during accelera-
tion and cornering.
Driving style must be readjusted.
12Cause What to do

Indicator and warning lamps
142Indication
* in Canadian models
The driving stability control systems,
including ABS, xDrive and the Flat Tire
Monitor, have failed, refer also to
page70You can continue your journey. Drive
cautiously and think well ahead. Avoid
braking with full force, driving on rough
tracks, and depressing the accelerator
pedal to full throttle or kick-down posi-
tion. Have the system checked immedi-
ately.
Indication
* in Canadian models
The driving stability control systems,
including ABS, xDrive and the Flat Tire
Monitor, have failed, refer also to
page70You can continue your journey. Drive
cautiously and think well ahead. Avoid
braking with full force, driving on rough
tracks, and depressing the accelerator
pedal to full throttle or kick-down posi-
tion. Have the system checked immedi-
ately.
Light up in yellow and red:
>Tire is deflated Carefully bring the car to a stop. Comply
with the additional information starting
on page71.
>Flat Tire Monitor not initialized Initialize Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page72.
Light up in yellow:
Flat Tire Monitor failed. Punctures are
not indicatedHave the system checked.
Lights up in red:
>Transmission limp-home program
active with restricted range of
gears, possibly with reduced accel-
eration.
Gears can be engaged without
depressing the brakeYou can continue your journey, but
moderate your speed and exercise due
caution. Have the system checked
without delay.
Always depress the brake to engage a
gear.
Lights up in yellow: Have the system checked as soon as
possible.
>Automatic selector lever locked:
Selector lever locked in position P
with engine running and brake
depressed orOverriding selector lever lock, refer to
page48.
>brake signal malfunctioning: gear
can be engaged without depress-
ing the brakeTo engage a gear while the vehicle is at
a standstill, always step on the brake.
Before leaving the vehicle, move the
selector lever to position P and switch
off the engine.
12Cause What to do

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
143
Lights up in red:
Transmission overheating Bring the car to a stop and move the
selector lever to position P. Allow the
transmission to cool down. You can
continue your journey, but moderate
your speed and exercise due caution.
Have the system checked if the situa-
tion reoccurs.
Lights up in yellow:
Transmission too hot Avoid high engine loads. You can con-
tinue your journey, but moderate your
speed and exercise due caution.
Selector lever position P not engaged.
Vehicle not prevented from rolling
Selector lever position P not engaged.
Ignition cannot be switched offEngage selector lever position P when
you wish to switch off the ignition, refer
to page42.
Lights up in red:
Electric steering wheel lock malfunc-
tioningThe engine can no longer be started. If
applicable, do not switch off the engine.
Contact your BMW Center.
Lights up in yellow:
Electric steering wheel lock jammed Move the steering wheel before starting
the engine.
Anti-trapping mechanism of the power
windows malfunctioningHave the system checked.
Anti-trapping mechanism of the elec-
tric glass sunroof malfunctioningHave the system checked.
Cruise control deactivated:
>Driving stability control systems are
active or
>handbrake is applied or
>the vehicle has not achieved a
speed of 20 mph or 30 km/h or
>engaged gear not suitable for the
speed being driven
Cruise control system failed You can continue your journey. Have
the system checked.
Engine speed too low Select a lower gear if the driving situa-
tion permits you to do so.
12Cause What to do